EDINBURGH University staff went on strike today as the employer threatens to deduct workers’ pay.

The action is the latest in the long-running national dispute between universities and the University and College Union (UCU) over pay, pensions, workload and casualisation.

Edinburgh University is one of a number of institutions which has threatened to deduct 50 to 100 per cent of the wages of workers taking part in the UCU-organised marking and assessment boycott.

The marking boycott began in April as part of UCU action short of a strike, and workers have accused universities of “guessing grades”  and “devaluing degrees” in recent weeks as they attempt to work around the boycott.

UCU Scotland official Mary Senior told the Star: “Employers are playing a dangerous game.

“They're finding all of these mitigations to potentially award marks that haven't been moderated or double-marked and checked in the normal way.

“And we’re saying, why are employers spending all of this time and energy, circumventing our action?

“Why don’t they just come back to the negotiating table and make a better offer?”

The striking workers rallied at the city’s Bristo Square, joined by students in solidarity.

Final-year photogtraphy student Izzy told the Star: “The university is being run as a business, they only really care about getting money. Principal Peter Matheson just got a £43,000 pay rise. Why can he not extend that to our tutors?”

Edinburgh UCU branch spokeswoman Sophia Woodman said: “Edinburgh University has just under £2.5 billion worth of reserves.

“This university and the sector can afford to pay staff enough to support themselves through this cost-of-living crisis.

“Peter Mathieson should stop trying to circumvent lawful industrial action and join the increasing number of vice-chancellors calling for new, meaningful talks to resolve the dispute.”

A University of Edinburgh spokesperson said: “Pay and pensions are nationally negotiated, which is the system preferred by UCU.”